Black Rapids Wetland Restoration Project

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority in collaboration with NCC and the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund has designed and enlarged the Black Creek wetland located in Ottawa’s Greenbelt. This enhanced wetland improves water quality, increases biodiversity and provides important wetland habitat in the headwaters of Black Rapids Creek.

The wetland has doubled in size from 3,444 square metres to almost 7,000 square metres. A tributary that had previously bypassed the wetland now flows into it providing a larger aquatic feature that supports amphibian breeding, fish habitat, bird foraging, and acts as a water supply for wildlife. The wetland now boasts a variety of side slopes, woody debris (i.e. root wads, basking logs and sweeper trees) and re-planting of native trees, shrubs and wetland vegetation. The project was completed in September 2016.

The wetland will be monitored in 2017, 2019, 2021.

Benefits of the project:

Improves water quality for Black Rapids Creek and the Rideau River

Increases biodiversity of aquatic/terrestrial plants and fish and wildlife

Provides winter and summer refuge areas for wetland wildlife, including nursery area for waterfowl and area for shorebirds to feed

Includes functional spawning, nursery, rearing and food supply habitat for fish allowing for wetland and

Presents a unique habitat feature along the National Capital Commission Greenbelt Pathway allowing for wetland and habitat restoration activities